PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i5-13400

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +10.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $78 less on MSRP ($221 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Delivers 47.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 107.6 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($221 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 32 MB).

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

✅+60% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 20 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13400 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 23,769).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 73.1 vs 107.6 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $221 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-13400 moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i5-13400

2023

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +10.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $78 less on MSRP ($221 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Delivers 47.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 107.6 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($221 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅+60% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 20 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 32 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13400 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 23,769).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 73.1 vs 107.6 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $221 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-13400 moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13400 better than Ryzen 5 5600X?

Yes. Core i5-13400 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 10.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 8.8% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i5-13400 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 10.4% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-13400 is the better fit. You are getting 8.8% better PassMark, backed by 10 cores and 16 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i5-13400 is the smarter buy today. Core i5-13400 is $78 cheaper on MSRP at $221 MSRP versus $299 MSRP, and it gives you a 10.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 47.2% better value on MSRP (107.6 vs 73.1 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM4 + DDR4 setup, Ryzen 5 5600X can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap, but on MSRP alone you would want to find it meaningfully cheaper in real-world listings before that path becomes easy to justify.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-13400 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2020), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of AM4, and more multi-core headroom with 10 cores / 16 threads instead of 6/12. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i5-13400 Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 5600X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13400	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	171 FPS	203 FPS
medium	158 FPS	174 FPS
high	132 FPS	140 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	107 FPS
1440p
low	143 FPS	169 FPS
medium	123 FPS	141 FPS
high	99 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	86 FPS
4K
low	81 FPS	85 FPS
medium	74 FPS	76 FPS
high	59 FPS	60 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	47 FPS

Open Core i5-13400 Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13400	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	545 FPS	464 FPS
medium	464 FPS	387 FPS
high	389 FPS	324 FPS
ultra	356 FPS	291 FPS
1440p
low	458 FPS	397 FPS
medium	403 FPS	334 FPS
high	345 FPS	290 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	253 FPS
4K
low	280 FPS	263 FPS
medium	247 FPS	226 FPS
high	231 FPS	205 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	171 FPS

Open Core i5-13400 Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13400	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	530 FPS	546 FPS
medium	449 FPS	473 FPS
high	415 FPS	432 FPS
ultra	375 FPS	358 FPS
1440p
low	490 FPS	508 FPS
medium	422 FPS	413 FPS
high	382 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	343 FPS	312 FPS
4K
low	393 FPS	348 FPS
medium	331 FPS	292 FPS
high	296 FPS	255 FPS
ultra	246 FPS	199 FPS

Open Core i5-13400 Open Ryzen 5 5600X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13400	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	594 FPS	546 FPS
medium	594 FPS	546 FPS
high	594 FPS	546 FPS
ultra	594 FPS	546 FPS
1440p
low	594 FPS	546 FPS
medium	594 FPS	546 FPS
high	594 FPS	546 FPS
ultra	521 FPS	524 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	529 FPS
medium	492 FPS	484 FPS
high	439 FPS	435 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	379 FPS

Open Core i5-13400 Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13400 and Ryzen 5 5600X

Core i5-13400

The Core i5-13400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture. It features 10 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 23,769 points. Launch price was $221.

Ryzen 5 5600X

The Ryzen 5 5600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 21,845 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13400 packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i5-13400 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400 versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i5-13400 uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13400 scores 23,769 against the Ryzen 5 5600X's 21,845 — a 8.4% lead for the Core i5-13400. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13400 vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X.

Feature	Core i5-13400	Ryzen 5 5600X
Cores / Threads	10 / 16+67%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz	4.6 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.7 GHz+48%
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)	32 MB+60%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512K (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)	Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022)
PassMark	23,769+9%	21,845

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13400 uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-13400	Ryzen 5 5600X
Socket	LGA1700	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	—	128 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	Yes
PCIe Lanes	—	24

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core i5-13400) / AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600X). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop.

Feature	Core i5-13400	Ryzen 5 5600X
Integrated GPU	—	No
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	AMD-V
Target Use	—	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13400 launched at $221 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 5600X debuted at $299. On MSRP ($221 vs $299), the Core i5-13400 is $78 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13400 delivers 107.6 pts/$ vs 73.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5600X — making the Core i5-13400 the 38.2% better value option.